Gas range



March l0, 1936. E, L. BAKER 0331369 1 GAS RANGE l Filed April 13, 1955 2 sheets-sheet 1 E. L, BAKER arch 1), 1936.

GAS RANGE Filed April l3 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented Mar. 10, 1936 UNITED sTAEs AT-ENT CFFICE Application April 13,

Claims.

This invention relates to gas ranges and has for its primary object the production of an improved burner assembly therefor which is superior to those heretofore known from both 5 standpoints of producing an improved range and providing greater economy in the manufacture thereof. In one aspect the invention Vembodies a new and improved burner supporting unit assembly which can be conveniently assembled on l0 a supporting frame independently of the range and thereafter mounted directly in the range with the burners in proper position within the re box. Such arrangement and construction not only greatly facilitates the assembling of the several parts by permitting the unit to be assembled prior to the introduction of the burners and cooperating parts into the range, but also provides a more rugged and compact construction and an improved assembly holding the burners more securely and accurately in place than has been the case heretofore.

Another aspect of the invention relates more particularly to the manifold of the assembly, which manifold is so constructed that it may be finished for and used with ranges having the oven and broiler at either the right or left of the top burner box. Furthermore, the manifold is located within the burner box and is constructed to occupy a minimum of space therein intermediate of the front and rear burners. Gas controlling valves for the burners are mounted on the manifold and a further feature of the invention relates to the novel construction and arrangement of these valves, the valves preferably having flat faces cooperating with like faces on the manifold and being operated from the front of the range through novel and conveniently manipulated connections thereto, and the valves preferably being so located that all such connections are uniform and interchangeable. The manifold embodies not only connections to the top burners but also connections to the oven and broiler burners, and the invention contemplates interlocking means preventing the iiow of gas simultaneously to the latter two burners.

These and other features of the invention hereinafter described will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a gas range employing my invention, certain portions being illustrated as broken away;

1935, Serial No. 16,153

.Y Fig. 2 is a sectional view therethrough on line 2 2 lof Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan section taken on 5 line 4-4 of Fig. 3; 1

Fig. 5 'is a fragmentary section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig; 6 is'a perspective view of the manifold showing the bottom and unfinished face thereof; l0 and Fig. '7 is a fragmentary modiiied form of valve.V

In the drawings, the reference character I0 indicates a gas range having a top apron I2 pro- T5 viding a burner box I4 within the confines thereof and havinginwardly projecting marginal flange portions I 6 adapted to receive and support the burner supporting unit I8 of my invention.

The unit I8 comprises a frame 2!) having end portions 22V for resting on the flanges I6 and an intermediate portion suspended at a lower level in the 'burner box and comprising an Vouter peripheral portion 24 and transverse connecting pieces 25 and 26, the end portions including angularly and downwardly extending sections 28 supporting the intermediate portion at said lower level. The peripheral portion 24 illustrated is substantially square in outline and a burner 30 is supported thereon adjacent to each corner, each of the burners having a gas supply tube 32 cooperating with my novel manifold 34.

The manifold 34 is relatively long and narrow whereby to occupy a minimum of space within the fire box and at the same time most elciently serve the burners. 'Ihe manifold comprises a portion 35 adapted to provide gas to the burners 30 and a second portion 36`adapted to provide gas to the oven and broiler through pipes 31. A feed pipe 38 extends rearwardly preferably from the central point 40 of the portion 35 of the manifold and has -a T-end adapted to receive a supply pipe 42 from either right or left side, a r plug 44v closing the side not used. The sub por- 40 vtions 45 of the manifold portion 35 at opposite sides of the. longitudinal'center 40 thereof are symmetrical and each such sub portion is provided with two burner jets 46 and 41 threaded into the front and rear walls thereof in communication with the interior 48 of the manifold, these four jets cooperating with and supplying gas to they four burners 30. The intermediate portion of the frame 20 is depressed at 49 wherevby to provide a trough for receiving and supplan View showing a porting the manifold, the manifold being bolted thereto at 50. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the portion 36 of the manifold projects outwardly beyond the right side of the frame in position to supply gas to an adjacent oven and broiler. As hereinafter more specifically described, the manifold can be finished and mounted in reversed position about the point 40 as a center, whereby to project the portion 30 from the left, as shown in broken lines 36T in Fig. l, and thereby accommodate a range having the oven and broiler on the left side of the top burners 30.

Communication to each jet 46 and 41 from the manifold chamber 48 is by way of two openings 52 and 53 through the manifold, the opening 52 leading into the chamber 4B and the opening 53 leading into the jet passage 54. Bothopenings 52 and 53 open onto a finished flat face 56 of the manifold, with which cooperates the flat face of a valve member 58, herein illustrated as pivotally movable about a stud 59. The inner flat face portion of each valve member is chambered at 68 to provide communication between the openings 52 and 53 when the member is in one position, and to cut off such communication when the member is in another position. Each valve member is moved about the stud 59 as a center by means of a rod 63 having a downwardly bent end 64 extending through a hole 65 in the member and having its free end engaged within a channel 62 in the manifold, engagement of this end of the rod with the ends of the channel serving as stops limiting the rotary movement of the valve to said two positions.

Each stud 59 is seated in the manifold and has an enlarged head portion 66 engaging and rotatably supporting its valve member. A spring 68, washer 69 and nut 10 serve to hold the flat face of the member in tight contact with the finished flat face 56 of the manifold. As shown in Fig.` 1, there are six valve members in substantial alignment on the manifold and a plate 12 mounted on the studs 59 thereof and secured thereto by nuts 13 serves the double function of providing a dust cover for the valves and also an abutment preventing outward movement of the rod ends 64 from the channels 62.

In Fig. 6 I have shown the bottom and unlinished face of the manifold. This face is provided with a plurality of outwardly projecting portions 14 adapted to `be finished to receive the valve members 58, such portions also being spotted at '16 for drilling the openings 52 and 53 and the centrally disposed opening for the stud 59. In the rough unfinished manifold casting both faces are like that shown in Fig. 6, the portions 'I4 and spottings 16 on each face being directly opposite and in alignment with those on the opposite face. Manifolds which are to be used with ranges having the oven and broiler to the right of the top burner box are finished to receive the valves on the face shown in full lines in Fig. 1 whereby, when the manifold is mounted in the range, the portion 36 thereof projects to the right of the top burner box. Manifolds which are to be used with ranges having the oven and broiler to the left of the burner box are finished to receive the valves on the face opposite to that shown in Fig. 1 whereby, when the manifold is mounted in the range, the portion 36 projects to the left of the burner box, as shown in broken lines 36 in Fig. 1. The two subportions 45 are symmetrical and in both positions of the manfold the point 40 thereof occupies a common location in the burner box. Thus it will be seen that my improved manifold is adaptable to ranges having either right or left-hand ovens.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the manifold is disposed intermediate of and substantially parallel with the front and rear sides of the burner box and the valve members 58 are in alignment and equal distances from the front of the range. The rods 63 are, therefore, of equal length and interchangeable. Another novel feature of the invention relates to means for conveniently operating the rods and valves whereby easily to give the valves the fine and accurate adjustments necessary to provide the desired amount of gas to the burners. This means comprises a plurality of hand levers H 4pivoted on a rod 18 at the front of the range, the handle portions of the levers extending through slots in a shield 80 suspended from the top apron I2 and the rods 63 being connected to laterally extending ends 19 of the levers. The leverage thus provided permits easy movement of the valves to the desired positions, these positions being indicated by the location of the handles'along the slots 8| in the shield. The two levers 'Il' for the oven and broiler valves are normally separated by a spring 82 therebetween on the rod 18, and when both valves are in the closed position their levers are engaged within notches 83 in the shield 80. As illustrated inV Fig. 1, either lever must be moved toward the other lever sufficiently to clear its notchl 83 before the lever can be pivoted to open its valve. The spacing of the two levers is such that both levers cannot be cleared and operated simultaneously. Thus is provided an interlock preventing simultaneous opening of both the oven and broiler valves. Y

The unit construction of my burner support permits the assembling of the burners and manifold independently of the range and the use of uniform burners all of which are alike and interchangeable. As illustrated, the manifold assembly is mounted on and secured to the depressed portion 49 of the frame by bolts 5B. The burners may then be seated in place on the frame, locating and holding studs 84 on the burners cooperating with corresponding holes in the frame. The assembled burner unit can thereafter be seated in place in the burner box by placing the ends 22 of the frame on the flanges I6 of the range and securing the same in place by bolts 86. It will be noted that the intermediate portionof the frame 28 is at such lower level as to bring the top surfaces of the burners below the top surface of the range. A pilot light tube may be provided in the manifold at 88.

It will now be apparent that I have provided a substantial and valuable improvement in gas ranges which not only simplifies the construction thereof but which also renders the same more economical to manufacture and assemble and provides a more compact and uniform combination than has been heretofore known, it being understood that various features of the construction illustrated can be conveniently modied within the scope of the invention. For example, in Fig. 7 I have illustrated a manifold as provided with valve members 90 which slide in a straight line rather than in a rotary path. These valves are normally held in Contact with the manifold by a leaf spring 92 and are operated by rods 94. One of the valves illustrated is open to a position supplying gas to its burner and the other is illustrated as closed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a gas range having a burner box, a burner supporting unit comprising a frame removably supported on the walls of the range with the frame suspended within the burner box, a plurality of burners in relatively spaced relation on the frame, a manifold on the frame, means providing gas conducting passages from the manifold to the burners, a plurality of gas controlling valves in said passages, and means for operating the valves.

2. In a gas range having a burner box, a burner supporting frame, a plurality of burners in relatively spaced relation on the frame, a manifold on the frame intermediate the burners and having a plurality of jets cooperating respectively with the supply tubes of the burners, a plurality of gas controlling valves for the jets, means adapting the frame to be mounted on the range with the burners located within the burner box, and means extending outwardly of the frame for operating the valves.

3. In a gas range having a burner box, a burner supporting frame having end portions adapted to rest on the marginal walls of the box and an intermediate portion on a lower level within the box when the frame is thus supported, a plurality of burners in relatively spaced relation on the lower level of the frame and having their top surfaces below the top surface of the range, a manifold on the frame intermediate the burners and having a plurality of jets cooperating respectively with the supply tubes of the burners, a plurality of gas controlling valves for the jets, and means extending outwardly of the frame and box for operating the valves.

4. In a gas range having a burner box, an open burner supporting frame having an outer peripheral portion and inwardly extending arms integral with said portion, a manifold mounted on said arms of the frame within said peripheral portion, a plurality of jets projecting outwardly of the manifold, a plurality of burners carried by the peripheral portion of the frame and having their supply tubes cooperating respectively with the jets, the ends of the frame being adapted to rest on the range in position supporting the frame and burners in the burner box, gas controlling valves on the manifold for the jets, and means extending outwardly of the frame for operating the Valves.

5. In a gas range having a burner box, a plurality of burners in relatively spaced relation in the box, a manifold disposed in the box intermediate of the burners and having a plurality of jets cooperating respectively with the supply tubes of the burners, a plurality of gas controlling valves for the jets each comprising a member having a flat face in contact with a flat face on the manifold, the manifold having two openings therethrough at and open to each of its said fiat faces and leading respectively to the gas supply chamber and the adjacent jet and each member being chambered inwardly of its said face to provide communication between said openings, means holding each member in flat contact with the manifold but permitting movement thereof to modify the communication between said openings, and means connected to the members and extending to the front of the range for giving said movement to the members.

6. In a gas range having a burner box, a plurality of burners in relatively spaced relation in the box, a manifold disposed in the box intermediate of the burners and having a plurality of jets cooperating respectively with the supply tubes of the burners, a plurality of gas controlling valves for the jets each comprising a member having a flat face in contact with a flat face on the manifold, the manifold having two openings therethroughat and open to each of its said flat faces and leading respectively to the gas supply chamber and the adjacent jet and each member being chambered inwardly of its said face to pro- A vide communication between said openings, a plurality of studs anchored to the manifold and extending respectively through and providing a pivotal support for the said members, compression springs on the studs acting on the members to hold said cooperating flat faces in contact, and means connected to the members and extending to the front of the range for pivotally moving the members in a manner modifying the communications between the said openings.

7. In a gas range having a burner box, a plurality of burners in relatively spaced relation in the box, a manifold disposed in the box intermediate of the burners, means providing gas passages from the manifold to the burners, valves on the manifold for controlling the flow of gas through said passages, rods having downwardly disposed ends engaging in holes in the valves for operating the valves, and a plate mounted on the manifold in position providing a cover for the valves and an abutment preventing movement of said rod ends from said holes.

8. In a gas range having a burner box, a plurality of burners in relatively spaced relation in the box, a manifold disposed in the bo-x intermediate of the burners, means providing gas passages from the manifold to the burners, valves on the manifold for controlling the fiow of gas through said passages, and rods having angularly disposed ends extending through holes in the valves and into channels formed in the manifold, the rods being adapted to operate the valves through the connection therewith at said holes and the extent of such operation being limited by the engagement of said rod ends in the channels.

9. A relatively long and narrow one-piece manifold fo-r a gas range, one portion of the manifold having the sub-portions at opposite sides of the longitudinal center of said portion symmetrical and each provided with a plurality of relatively spaced burner jet openings through the front and rear walls, and a second portion extending beyond one end of the first-named portion, the firstnamed portion being adapted to supply gas to the top burners of a range and the second portion being adapted to supply gas to another part of the range, the manifold being reversible about said longitudinal center whereby to place the second-named portion at either side of the top burner box of the range.

10. 'Ihe manifold defined in claim 9, plus gas controlling valves cooperating with one face thereof, the opposite face of the manifold being of like construction whereby either of said faces may be finished to cooperate with said valves.

EUGENE L. BAKER. 

